[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY WISN-TV] CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --WWW.NCICAP.ORG-- TUESDAY IS PRIMARY ELECTION DAY. POLITICAL PUNDITS WEIGH IN ON THE KEY CONTEST ENDS TO WATCH. SENATOR RON JOHNSON BECOMES PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S RACE. WHY HE SAID WHAT HE SAID. JOHNSON AND WHY HE'S NOT BACKING DOWN FROM HIS CHALLENGE BATTLE OVER IMMIGRATION REFORM. A MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER GETS A WISCONSIN WELCOME. SHOULD WE BE THINKING ABOUT HIS COURAGE ON ELECTION DAY? COVERING THE ISSUES IMPORTANT TO WISCONSIN, THIS IS "UPFRONT" WITH MIKE GOUSHA. WELCOME TO "UPFRONT." WE BEGIN WITH RON JOHNSON, WHO HAS BEEN IN THE HEADLINES A COUPLE OF TIMES THIS PAST WEEK. FIRST, APPEALING A JUDGE'S RULING AGAINST HIS OBAMACARE LAWSUIT. JOHNSON CLAIMS THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IS GIVING SPECIAL TREATMENT TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS , WHO CAN STILL RECEIVE FEDERAL SUBSIDIES FOR THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE UNDER OBAMACARE. LATER IN THE WEEK, JOHNSON MADE NEWS WHEN HE WAS ASKED ABOUT REPUBLICAN ATTACKS ON MARY BURKE. BURKE'S WEALTH AND BUSINESS PRACTICES HAVE COME UNDER FIRE. JOHNSON, A WEALTHY MANUFACTURER, SAID HE IS A BIG SUPPORTER OF GOVERNOR WALKER, BUT ADDED IT DOES NOT HELP TO DEMONIZE SUCCESS OR DEMAGOGUE AGAINST IT. SENATOR RON JOHNSON JOINS US. LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THOSE COMMENTS YOU MADE BEFORE THE "JOURNAL SENTINEL" EDITORIAL BOARD THE OTHER DAY. DO YOU STAND BY THOSE COMMENTS, OR DO YOU WISH YOU HAD ANSWERED THE QUESTION DIFFERENTLY? I CERTAINLY WAS NOT TRYING TO MAKE NEWS. I'M A BIG SUPPORTER OF GOVERNOR WALKER. HE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB FOR WISCONSIN. SHORTLY AFTER HE GOT ELECTED, HE PROCLAIMED WISCONSIN IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS. THAT WAS THE ONLY POINT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE. EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL OUGHT TO CONCENTRATE ON TRYING TO MAKE WHETHER IT IS A STATE OR CITY OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE FOR BUSINESS RISK-TAKING, EXPANSION, JOB CREATION. THAT IS HOW YOU BUILD A ROBUST ECONOMY AND HELP MIDDLE INCOME AMERICANS. THAT IS WHAT SCOTT WALKER HAS DONE. HE HAS MADE WISCONSIN A MORE ATTRACTIVE PLACE. THE RESULTS ARE EVIDENT. I'M A BIG SUPPORTER FOR HIS REELECTION. BUT YOU DON'T REGRET HAVING SAID THAT YOU THINK IT IS A BAD IDEA TO DEMONIZE SUCCESS OR DEMAGOGUE AGAINST THE OUTSOURCING? I HAVE BEEN MAKING THAT STATEMENT FOR FOUR YEARS, EVER SINCE I ENTERED THE PUBLIC ARENA . IT IS A VERY BAD PART OF POLITICAL DEMAGOGUERY TO DEMONIZE SUCCESS. WE SHOULD BE INCENTIVIZING AND CELEBRATING IT. LET ME TALK TO YOU ABOUT YOUR LAWSUIT, THE ONE THAT IS CHALLENGING THIS ADMINISTRATIVE RULING BY THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION. YOU SAID YOU WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE IT. HOW WILL YOU PAY FOR THE CONTINUED PURSUIT OF THAT, AND HAS THIS BECOME A LINE IN THE SAND FOR YOU, SOMETHING WHERE YOU SAID, I WILL TAKE ON THIS ISSUE OF PRESIDENTIAL AUTHORITY NOW? I WILL CONTINUE TO PAY IT OUT OF MY CAMPAIGN. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. JUDGE GREECE BACK GAVE IT SERIOUS CONSIDERATION. IN HIS OPINION, HE POINTED OUT HOW SERIOUS THIS ISSUE IS. THE REASON I SUED THE PRESIDENT WAS TO HIGHLIGHT THIS PRESIDENT'S UNILATERAL GOVERNANCE , THE EXPANSION OF EXECUTIVE POWER AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR DELICATE FORM OF GOVERNMENT. THOSE CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT REALLY PRESERVE OUR FREEDOM AND PROTECT US AGAINST THE TYRANNY THAT THE JUDGE WARNED US ABOUT. THE PRESIDENT SAID IN THE PAST WEEK THAT HE WILL CONTINUE TO EXERCISE HIS EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY, AND HE INTENDS TO USE IT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF IMMIGRATION REFORM. THAT MAKES REPUBLICANS CRAZY. HOW MUCH RESPONSIBILITY DOES CONGRESS BEAR FOR THIS HAPPENING? CONGRESS HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REACH A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT ON IMMIGRATION REFORM. THE HOUSE PASSED A BILL TO ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM AT THE BORDER. THEY HAD A FUNDING BILL, PAID FOR BY PRIORITIZING SPENDING. THE ADDED PROVISION SAID PRESIDENT OBAMA CANNOT DEFER ACTION ON FUTURE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION'S, WHICH HAS BEEN ONE OF THE PRIMARY CAUSES OF THIS SURGE IN CHILDHOOD ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. IT IS BECAUSE HIS DEFERRED ACTION CHILDHOOD ADMISSIONS CREATED THE IMPRESSION BY FAMILIES IN CENTRAL AMERICA THAT IF YOU GET YOUR KIDS IN AMERICA, THEY ARE HOME FREE GRADE THAT IS THE PROXIMATE CAUSE FOR THIS THING. WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR POLICY GOAL HAS TO BE. WE HAVE TO DETER PARENTS FOR MAKING THAT REALLY DANGEROUS DECISION TO SEND THEIR KIDS ON A HORRIFIC JOURNEY ON A TRAIN TO SUBJECT THEM TO VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, MAYBE EVEN DEATH. WE HAVE TO STOP THE FLOW. WHY CAN'T CONGRESS REACH AN AGREEMENT ON A BROADER IMMIGRATION REFORM PACKAGE? WHY IS THAT SO DIFFICULT TO DO? THERE IS A DISAGREEMENT IN THIS COUNTRY OVER WHAT WE NEED TO DO. HERE IS UNILATERAL ACTION THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA COULD TAKE WITHIN HIS EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY. HE COULD START PRIORITIZING SPENDING. WASHINGTON LOVES AN EMERGENCY. THEY TAKE THE SITUATION. IT IS A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS, BUT IT HAS BEEN BUILDING, IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. THE PRESIDENT CAN REPURPOSE OTHER LOWER PRIORITY FUNDS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THESE KIDS IN A HUMANE FASHION. THERE IS SOME EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE THE PRESENT EXERCISE -- HE SHOULD NOT BE UNILATERALLY RENTING -- GRANTING DEFERRED ACTION ON MILLIONS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. THAT WILL INCREASE THE INCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE TO COME INTO OUR COUNTRY ILLEGALLY. I AM OFFERING -- I AM ALL FOR THE GUESTWORKER PROGRAM, WITH THE MINIMUM WAGE ATTACHED TO IT. WE HAVE GOT TO END ALL THE INCENTIVES FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. THAT IS THE BEST WAY TO SECURE THE BORDER. THAT HAS GOT TO BE THE FIRST STEP OF ANY IMMIGRATION REFORM. DEMOCRATS ALWAYS HOLD OUR BORDER SECURITY HOSTAGE FOR SOME GUARANTEE OF CITIZENSHIP. I GUESS THEY ARE DOING IT FOR SOME CYNICAL OR POLITICAL PURPOSE. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE CYNICAL. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD PLAY POLICY WITH THIS ISSUE. LET'S SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND SECURE THE BORDER BY ELIMINATING ALL THOSE INCENTIVES FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. I SAW "WALL STREET JOURNAL" NBC POLL, AND I THINK IT HAD ONE PARTICULARLY TROUBLING NUMBER. IT SAID THREE QUARTERS OF AMERICANS THINK THEIR KIDS WILL NOT BE AS WELL-OFF AS THEY ARE TODAY. THEY SEEM TO BLAME A LOT OF IT ON CONGRESS'S INABILITY TO TAKE ON THE NATION POSSIBLY CHALLENGES. GIVE ME A SENSE OF WHAT YOU THINK CONGRESS CAN DO, WHAT THE SENATE CAN DO, WHAT YOU CAN DO IN WASHINGTON THAT WOULD REASSURE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO LEAD THIS COUNTRY ARE UP TO THE TASK OF SOLVING THESE BIG PROBLEMS. WE SHOULD FIRST ADMIT WE HAVE THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE NOT DONE THAT SUFFICIENTLY. I HEAR POLITICIANS SAY ALL THE TIME, SOCIAL SECURITY WILL BE INSOLVENT BY 2033. IT IS NOT. SOCIAL SECURITY WILL PAY TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN BENEFITS. WE HAVE TO ADMIT WE HAVE THE PROBLEM AND PROPERLY DEFINED, SET THE DEMAGOGUERY ASIDE, GET INFORMED AS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND AS CITIZENS. WE HAVE GOT TO START THINKING ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS , AND WE REALLY NEED TO START WORKING TOGETHER, NOT QUESTION EACH OTHER'S MOTIVES. RON JOHNSON, THE REPUBLICAN. THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. HAVE A GREAT DAY. WHEN WE COME BACK, A LOOK AHEAD TO TUESDAY'S PRIMARY AND THE RACES TO WATCH. OUR POLITICAL PANEL LOOKS AT WHO COULD WIN, AND WHY. SENATOR RON JOHNSON TOLD US WHAT HE THINKS NEEDS TO BE DONE TO REFORM IMMIGRATION POLICY. GIVE US YOUR IDEAS. WEIGH IN BY LIKING AND SHARING "UPFRONT" ON FACEBOOK.